Neurosurgery
Learn more about UW Medicine’s Neurosurgery program and the expertise of our neurosurgeons.
Neurosurgery
Learn more about UW Medicine’s Neurosurgery program and the expertise of our neurosurgeons.
Neurosurgery at UW Medicine
The UW Medicine Neurosciences Institute is home to one of the largest groups of neurosurgeons in Washington at four of the region’s top hospitals. Our team of neurosurgeons provides the highest quality care for the full spectrum of disorders that affect the central and peripheral nervous systems of the brain, spine and spinal column, including their supportive structures and vascular supply. Each of our neurosurgeons subspecializes in advanced surgical treatments for certain brain and spine disorders.
What is a neurosurgeon?
Neurosurgeons are medical doctors with many years of training in surgery. They diagnose and treat problems with the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Neurosurgeons also care for the nerves that branch out from your spinal cord and run through the rest of your body (peripheral nervous system).
If an illness or injury affects any part of your nervous system, you may have certain symptoms. These can include pain, numbness, weakness, tremors, balance problems or memory problems.
Sometimes you can treat these problems with lifestyle changes, medicine or rehabilitation. But in other cases, you may need advanced treatments that only a neurosurgeon can provide.
Who should see a neurosurgeon?
Your primary care provider (PCP) or neurologist may refer you to a neurosurgeon if:
- You have new or worsening symptoms, and first-line treatments don’t help (or stop working)
- You have a serious condition, such as a brain tumor that needs removal, or an unruptured brain aneurysm that needs treatment.
- You have a herniated cervical or lumbar disc, arthritis in your spine or other spine conditions that require surgical treatment
You may also receive care from a neurosurgeon if you have a brain or spine emergency. This type of care includes treatments for:
- Hemorrhagic stroke – sudden, spontaneous bleeding in the brain caused by a brain aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation
- Ischemic stroke – a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain
- Head or spine injuries caused by a car crash, fall or other types of accidents
In some cases – like if you’re seeking a second opinion – you can also see a neurosurgeon without a doctor’s referral. Check with your health insurance provider for more information about self-referrals.
Our innovative neurosurgery team
What conditions do neurosurgeons treat?
Neurosurgeons help treat many conditions. At the UW Medicine Neurosciences Institute, all our neurosurgeons subspecialize in specific disorders and treatments. This means you receive expert care, no matter what your condition.
These include:
- Brain and spine tumors, both benign (noncancerous) and cancerous tumors including meningioma
- Brain structural problems, including Chiari malformation
- Cerebrovascular (Brain blood vessel) conditions such as brain aneurysms or moyamoya disease
- Chronic pain
- Degenerative spine disease (herniated disc, spinal stenosis)
- Spine disorders (spinal fractures, scoliosis)
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Facial nerve disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia
- Hydrocephalus (fluid build-up in the brain)
- Movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral nerve disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome
- Pituitary tumors (noncancerous or cancerous tumors that grow on the pituitary gland, which controls hormones throughout the body)
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain and spine injuries
Patient story
Lindsay’s cavernoma recovery story
A promising Alpine skiing athlete was on track to make the U.S. Ski Team when she started experiencing troubling symptoms. Eventually, Lindsay was diagnosed with a cavernous malformation in her brain.
What to expect from your UW Medicine neurosurgeon
When it’s time for your first appointment with a neurosurgeon, you’ll begin with a thorough evaluation. Your appointment may include:
- A medical history to discuss the reason for your visit. You’ll talk about any previous diagnoses, any treatments you’ve already tried and your current symptoms. You may also review the results of any diagnostic tests you had before your appointment.
- A physical exam to check for signs of neurological disease. During this visit, your neurosurgeon may assess your motor and sensory skills, balance and coordination, reflexes, mental status and nerve function.
Diagnostic tests for brain and spine disorders
Your neurosurgeon may order new or extra tests to help get more information about your condition. These tests include:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scans to find tumors and blocked or burst blood vessels in your brain
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to uncover signs of damage
- Nerve conduction studies to confirm whether certain nerves work
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) to see if your brain has abnormal electrical signals
- Angiogram to evaluate the blood vessels in your brain, head and neck region, or spine
If you don’t already have a diagnosis, these tests can help rule out certain problems and pinpoint the source of your symptoms. However, if a specialist has already diagnosed your condition, these tests may help your surgeon determine the most effective treatment.
Neurosurgery treatments
Neurosurgeons perform many different procedures and use many different techniques – and they are all available at UW Medicine. Because we offer the full range of options, we can tailor your treatments to your age, condition, health and other factors. Our neurosurgeons are committed to walking you through the journey and staying with you as you go through the treatment. Even once the surgery is over, they will follow up with you for years after.
The types of surgery we offer include:
- Device implantation. Our neurosurgeons can place special devices inside the body to help control symptoms of certain medical conditions. For example, vagus nerve stimulators can treat epilepsy, and spinal cord stimulators can reduce back pain. We also offer deep brain stimulation for people with Parkinson’s disease.
- Endoscopic surgery. Instead of performing a craniotomy (temporarily removing a piece of skull bone), our neurosurgeons reach the brain by guiding flexible, hollow tubes (endoscopes) through the nose or blood vessels. We can use endoscopes to remove brain or pituitary tumors or herniated discs in your neck or back.
- Endovascular neurosurgery. Neurosurgeons can also treat brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and many other blood vessel problems with less invasive techniques. We can pass surgical tools through a small tube placed in one of the blood vessels in your wrist or groin area. Without any incisions to heal, these treatments can help you recover more quickly and with less pain – so you’re back on your feet and back to your regular life faster.
- Traditional surgery. In some cases, open brain surgery or open spine surgery is still the most effective way to treat a sudden or chronic problem. Our neurosurgeons perform thousands of surgeries every year, making them some of the most experienced in the Pacific Northwest.
Team-based care
At UW Medicine, your neurosurgeon is one member of a larger care team. They can refer you (or work with) any other specialists who may help improve your treatment or recovery. These specialists may include:
- Neurocritical care specialists (doctors who work exclusively in the intensive care unit to help prevent or reduce medical problems after neurosurgery)
- Neurologists (doctors who specialize in brain and spine problems but don’t perform surgery)
- Neuro-oncologists (doctors who specialize in brain and spine cancer)
- Neuropsychiatrists (doctors who specialize in mental or behavioral challenges caused by neurological disorders)
- Rehabilitation specialists (physical, occupational and speech therapists)
Leaders in neurosurgery, research and training
UW Medicine neurosurgeons in Washington specialize in spine surgery, aneurysm repair, brain tumor removal, deep brain stimulation, epilepsy surgery and more.
Our neurosurgeons take part in medical education and research, too.
The UW School of Medicine ranks No. 2 in the nation in federal research funding. This allows us to conduct clinical and scientific research related to new neurological discoveries and safer, more effective treatments. As our patient, you can enroll in clinical trials that let you try promising new therapies or surgical techniques before they’re widely available.
Because we’re affiliated with a medical school, we’re also teaching and training the next generation of top neurosurgeons.